2002 Dodge Durango service brakes, hydraulic problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING 75 MPH, THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE VIBRATED, ACCOMPANIED BY A GRINDING NOISE AND LOUD SOUND. THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THE WHOLE TIRE WAS MISSING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR AXLE AND DRUM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE TO THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”

“CONTINUED PROBLEM WITH BRAKING SYSTEM. HAVE HAD BRAKES REPLACED THREE TIMES IN 80K MILES. ONCE THE BRAKES SEIZED ON THE ROAD ( WAS STOPPED BY TROOPER DUE TO SMOKE) AND HAD TO BE TOWED. RECENTLY SIMILAR, PRECURSOR SYMPTOMS TO SEIZING BEGAN AGAIN, THEY WERE CONFIRMED BY MY DEALERSHIP AND THE ENTIRE FRONT BRAKING SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPLACED. THIS IS THE SECOND DODGE TRUCK/VAN THAT I HAVE OWNED THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. MY PREVIOUS VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED THREE TIMES AFTER THE BRAKES SEIZED. SEEMS TO AFFECT TRUCKS/VANS WITH 16" DIA WHEELS SINCE I HAVE OWNED OTHER CHRYSLER PRODUCTS WITHOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE MAINTENANCE MANAGER'S RESPONSE TO MY COMPLAINT ABOUT THE FOURTH MAJOR BRAKING PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE WAS "NO CAR IS PERFECT". I FULLY UNDERSTAND THAT NOTHING IS PERFECT, BUT IF YOU CAN'T GET THE BRAKING SYSTEM RIGHT YOU SHOULDN'T BE SELLING CARS. IN MY MIND THAT'S THE BRAKING SYSTEM IS THE NUMBER ONE SAFETY PRIORITY ON A VEHICLE. *TR”

“I WAS IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE 2002 DODGE DURANGO'S BRAKES DID NOT WORK AND THE ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS WAS THE SCARIEST THING I HAVE EVER EXPERIENCED. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY AUTO ZONE, DODGE DEALER, LOCAL MECHANIC...AND NO ANSWERS. THE BRAKES LITERALLY WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAVE 3 CHILDREN AND HAVE NO OTHER CHOICE BUT TO DRIVE THIS DEATH TRAP. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BALL JOINTS/ ELECTRICAL ISSUES. I HAD THE ABS FUSE PULLED, BUT NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SOLUTION. HAS THERE BEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS OF BRAKE FAILURE IN THESE VEHICLES. *TR”

“I HAVE A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. IT HAS REAR ANTILOCK BRAKES. I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CLOSE CALLS IN HARD STOP SITUATIONS WHERE THE WHEELS LOCK UP AND THE VEHICLE SLIDES FORWARD. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO A BRAKE SPECIALIST WHO AGREED AFTER A TEST RIDE THERE WAS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BUT SAID I NEEDED TO GET THE DEALER INVOLVED. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DODGE DEALERS OVER A PERIOD OF ABOUT FOUR YEARS. THEY HAVE MADE SEVERAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO WHICH I HAD THE SERVICE DONE AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE. NOW THEY KEEP TELLING ME THERE IS NOTHING WRONG. I GOT DODGE REGIONAL INVOLVED LAST YEAR. THEY TOLD ME TO TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND HAVE THEM CHECK IT OUT. THE DEALER SAID THAT THE ABS WAS ENGAGING EARLY BUT DID NOTHING TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. I RECENTLY REACHED DODGE REGIONAL AGAIN. HE SAYS HE TALKED TO THE SERVICE MANAGER AT THE DEALERSHIP WHO TOLD HIM THEY RECOMMENDED THE ROTORS BE REPLACES AND I REFUSED. I TOLD HIM THAT WAS A LIE THAT I HAD THE ROTORS AND PADS REPLACED. DODGE REGIONAL SAID THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO TO HELP. HE SAID THE SERVICE MANAGER RECOMMENDED I BRING THE CAR IN FOR INSPECTION AGAIN AT ANOTHER $90. I TOLD HIM I REFUSE TO KEEP PAYING THESE FEES TO HAVE…”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 DODGE DURANGO. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING, WHINING, AND HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. HE DROVE TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AND A TIE ROD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A WHEEL ALIGNMENT. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 04V596000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT: CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT) WAS REFERENCED. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE ENTIRE COOLING SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE DEALER COULD NOT LOCATE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE COOLING SYSTEM HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY SINCE THE REPAIR. THE SWITCH TO OPERATE THE BLOWER MOTOR FAN ONLY WORKS ON HIGH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 07/15/08.*LJ THE BRAKES WERE REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES. UPDATED 07/15/08.”

“ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DASH. THE BRAKES DID BECOME SPONGY. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN DIRECTLY TO THE MECHANIC ABOUT 3/4 DOWN THE ROAD. HE FOUND THE CLIP TO THE REAR ABS SENSOR HAD BROKEN AND THE SENSOR TORN APART. FURTHER INVESTIGATION SHOWED THAT THE SENSOR HAD BEEN BROKEN BY THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WHICH HAD FOR NO GOOD REASON SHATTERED INTO PIECES. THIS IS A GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE WITH 50,000 MILES AND NO ABUSE. *TR”